Signal apparatus



R D N X E L A A D R S U T A R .A D.. D.. A Tu A N G T. S

Filed Dec. 8. 1941 LVZ 2/ f A, gg

/mfff/fr ATTORNEYS imprinted i Claims.

'l'his invention relates to signal apparatus and has for an object to provide apparatus of this type which will include an insulated electrical connection with an electrode on the outside of oil Weil tubing.

In many cases, particularly in the process of acidizing an oil Well, it is desirable to ascertain the fluid level outside the tubing, or to determine when the acid solution reaches a predetermined level, and while this may be done by suspending an electrode in the well between the tubing and casing on an insulated conductor cable, such cable frequently becomes fouled with the tubing and in many cases cannot be recovered.

An object of the present invention is to obviate the above disadvantage by the provision of an insulated electrode on the tubing exposed to fluid contact exteriorly of the tubing, and to provide a conductor cable which may be lowered into the tubing and will make an insulated connection `lilith the electrode, the cable being afterward removed from the tubing leaving the tubing unobstructed and in condition to function.

A further Object is to provide appartaus of this character which Will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter iully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawing forming a part ci this specification:

Figure l is a longitudinal section view showing vvell tubing equipped with an insulated electrode exposed exteriorly of the tubing and a conductor cable equipped with an insulated socket member adapted to be lowered into engagement with an exposed prong member which is supported in the tubing and is carried by a cable connected to the electrode, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section view taken on the line l-li of Figure l.

Reference now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, it designates tubing of an oil well ll. In carrying out the invention an electrode it is disposed enteriorly oi the tubing at the liquid level depth and is protected by a perforated shield I3. The electrode is secured to the conductor Irl of an insulated cable It, the latter being engaged through an opening ld in the tubing and being provided exteriorly of the tubing with an insulating washer ll so that the electrode is insulated from the tubing. The cable is directed upwardly to extend along the axis of the tubing and is supported in this position by a metal sleeve I 8 which is provided with tripod legs i9 adapted to be supported on the upper end 2U of one of the pipe sections at a joint 2l ci the tubing. A conica1 prong member l2 formed of metal is secured to the upper end of the conductor Ill of the cable and is insulated from the sleeve by an insulating plug 2i fitted into the bore of the sleeve and provided with an insulating washer 2i which is disposed between the prong and the upper edge of the sleeve.

In further carrying out the invention the con'- ductor 25 of an insulated cable 26 is provided with a metal sleeve 2l of suicient diameter to be easily dropped over the sleeve it ofthe xed insulated cable I5 and leave a space lbetween both sleeves for reception of semiliquid insulating material such as hard oil, cup grease, or the like, indicated at 2d. The lower end of the sleeve il is open and may if desired be covered with irangible material to prevent escape of the insulating material it.

The conductor 2i is equipped with a conical socket member 25 formed of metal and disposed midway oi' the ends of the sleeve 2l, adapted to receive and make good electrical connection with the conical prong 22 of the fixed insulated cable it when the cable it is lowered into the tubing it.

For centering the sleeve il in the tubing while it is being lowered and withdrawn, a plurality of arcuate guide lingers it are disposed in an annular series around the sleeve 2l and engage the inner surface of the tubing, see Figure 2, these ngers assuring that the conical socket member 29 will be lowered accurately into electrical engagement with the prong member 22.

The upper end oi the conductor it of the insulated cable it is connected through an animeter il, to a battery t2 one side of which is grounded as shown at lli.

In operation the insulated cable 2t is lowered into the tubing it until the conical socket member it receives and electrically engages the coniu cal prong member l2, the excess insulating material it being forced out of the sleeve 2l as the sleeve iii enters the former. 'I'hus a perfectly sealed and insulated electrical connection is made and' will remain in this condition even under aerienne iva-ter or other conductor z reaches the electrode closed through the be indicated on tne amineter requiring the use of the ad tile insulating cal Withdrawn.

it is thought that l ion oi tlv, invention s: tion witli vieil tubine' of a secconductor cable engaged nu' in i'fiie tubiner end terminetosed outside ci' the tubnrcnn member conncct- 1e conductor of the caile, seid prong member l sleeve, means securingr nermnnently support lo to entend axially n section of inm ci to bf owercffi inon. tno lower end emiliquid insulating e, the second sleeve :n to receive tlie first prone" member, a conion the lower end ne nieteriel being i oi? 'time second c movement oi the to lnerniit goed n the prong member' and terrieri bv the second source ci electricity and to the conductor of the second named insulated cable.

2. The structure as of claim l and in which the means for securing the sleeve to the tubing corn-- prises a plurality o tripod legs secured to the sleeve and supported on the upper end on one of tbe pine sections at a 1e-int of the tubing.

3. The structure as of claim l. and in which the means for centering and guiding the socket member accurately into engagement with the prong member comprises e. plurality of arcuate einde fingers disposed in an :annular series around the sleeve ol the second named section of insulated conductor cable adapted to engage the inn ner surface of the tubing during lowering of said cable into the tubing.

The combination with well tubing oi a, secn tion of insulated conductor cable engaged through an opening in the tubing and terminating in an electrode exposed outside of the tubing, a conical conductor prong member connected to the upper end ci the conductor of the cable, a sleeve on tno cable, said prone member being insun lated from said sleeve, ineens securing the sleeve to the tubing,r to permanently support the section.

of conductor cable to entend axially upward in the tubing, a second section of insulated conductor cable adapted to be lowered into the tubing, a metal sleeve on the lower end of the second named cable, the second sleeve being open at the bottom to receive the first named sleeve and conicel prong member, a conical conductor socket member on the lower end oi the conductor of the second named cable adapted to receive tbe prong member when. the second named ceble is lowered into the tubing, means carried by the second named sleeve for centering tlie second :named sleeve in the tubing and for guiding the socket member accurately into engagement with the member, n source of electricity grow., fi one eide, nnd on electricsil;v onere/ted inclif'f-t device connected to tbe other l rco of electricite to the conductor oi the 

